KP govt prepares draft bill for prevention of drug abuse

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has prepared a draft bill for prevention of drug abuse which recommended imposition of strict penalties on the trade of ice and other narcotics, ARY News reported on Saturday.

KP authorities recommended imposition of strict penalties on drug-related cases in the bill devised eliminate the menace in the province.

Establishment of special anti-narcotic courts was recommended to try responsible persons.

According to the draft bill, individuals involved in making and trading narcotics will be pronounced to 25-year jail term and seizure of assets.

Seven year imprisonment and Rs0.3 million fine will be imposed on a person who possesses ice up to 100 gram.

The draft bill would be presented in the provincial assembly for final approval in connection with the government’s bid to expedite drive against drugs.

It was recommended to register drug addicted persons to provide medical treatment funded by the provincial government.

On February 28, the KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had announced to bring a draft law for the prevention of drug abuse in the provincial assembly in order to eradicate the menace in the province.

The State Minister for Interior Shahryar Afridi had also foretold that the government would expedite drive against drugs and added that the operations against narcotics would be extended to every nook and corner of the country.

Addressing a drug burning ceremony on February 11, the State Minister for Interior Shahryar Afridi reiterated his promise to make Pakistan a narcotics-free state. He said that the government would leave no stone unturned in ridding the county of the menace of narcotics.

The minister lauded the performance of Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG) and said that it was playing ka ey role in controlling drugs. Afridi underscored the need of efforts at international level to control spread of narcotics. He said fence was erected at Pak-Afghan border to control cross border smuggling.